Page 18 of The Santas Who Stole Me

I assess her facial features, which suggest she’s pleased right now. Crinkles around the eyes as she talks, cheeks high; she enjoys baking. This was a good use of my time with her, and I appreciate that she is happy with me.

“Roll these out.” She hands me some dough that she quickly made from memory. She hasn’t opened any of the books I brought home.

Taking the sheet and the parchment paper, I do as she requests. The dough doesn’t flatten, it sticks to the pin, but she remedies it with some flour. We work in silence between her instructions, and despite the differences in our tasks, I shift across the kitchen to be closer to her.

“So how do you fit in with the guys? I doubt they let all the other coworker killers live with them.”

“I once tried to kill Keeper.”

She lets out a chuckle, then looks at me when she realizes I’m telling the truth.

Lies come to me easily, and I thought of about ten different ones to tell her, but for some reason I feel at ease telling Georgia this story. Maybe it’s because we’ve already let her in so there is no going back. I doubt she’s come to realize that yet.

“And how did that go, seeing as he’s remained alive?” She puts in coloring to the icing, making it a light blue.

“We were going after the same mark. It was a high-value target. Whoever completed the job first would get a large sum of money along with future job connections. I was only starting out in this role, so Keeper got there first. We fought and I was going to end his life, but he offered me a job instead. He said no one had ever surprised him like that. No one had ever beaten me to a mark either, although I had done only a few jobs, so we made an alliance.” Alliance isn’t the word that Keeper and Calum use to describe our relationship. The brothers insist we are family. Still, I have always felt a little like an outsider. Strangely enough, I haven’t had any of those feelings since Georgia has arrived. The past week has changed the dynamic in this house.

“And now you’re all best friends. That’s a cute story. I’m glad you found each other and bonded, even if it was over a little killing.” She smiles. I assume she is joking until she continues. “I haven’t had friends in a while. Marge at the diner is cool, but she’s so put together and my life is such a mess. Sometimes she’s a little distant, as if she knows she can’t stay here for long. I recognize that look. The need to run at any moment. She must recognize it in me too.”

“I know what you mean,” I reply.

She nods keeping her attention on her work.

I don’t say anything else, watching as she takes the cookies off the rack and starts decorating them. Her face is full of concentration, and she pushes her tongue inside her cheek while piping icing along the outside of the cookie. Her eyelids are lowered, and her black lashes almost touch her cheeks. I’m so mesmerized watching her I don’t know how much time passes.

“Done,” she singsongs, which could mean she’s happy or feeling accomplished. Georgia digs through the cabinets, finds a small dessert plate, and places a cookie on it, sliding it over to me. The cookie is round with thick white icing and a peanut butter cup flipped to be a hat. Black and white icing creates a face while blue icing outlines it with shiny looking sprinkles, like glitter.

“A snowman?” I ask, stepping in closer to her.

“Yes, a little icy but sweet underneath. Perfect cookie for you. Try it.” She motions at me, encouraging me to take a bite, so I do.

Sugary icing mixes with the soft cookie base in my mouth. “Really good,” I say in between bites. It’s not a lie to make her feel better.

“Really?”

I swallow and stare at her mouth.

“Mmmm, come taste.” My arms lock around her waist before I lean in, giving her a few seconds to protest. She doesn’t. When she looks down at my lips, I move my mouth to meet hers. Our tongues mix, slow and soft. Fucking perfect. She lets a little moan out into my mouth, and I do my best not to swallow it up. I want to hear every sound she makes. I end our kiss and give her a quick peck on the lips. I could kiss her forever, but this was our first time and I need to see how she’s reacting. I scan her face. Her lips are in a lazy smile, and she has crinkles around her eyes again. My chest swells knowing she wanted that kiss too.

“See, so sweet.” Then she surprises me, folding her arms around my neck and laying her head on my chest.

I can’t help but hug her back, wanting to absorb some of her sweetness.

“I’m glad that you like it. I added extra butter. We will have to remember that for next time.”

“Absolutely next time,” I say into her hair that smells like sugar and candy. My arms engulf her and I’m reminded of how tiny she is when I feel her bones. She could so easily be cracked if I want. I don’t, however, so I release her.

She continues decorating and placing finished cookies in an arrangement on a large stand I purchased with her in mind. There are blue flecks in the pattern that match her pupils.

“Want to see if the guys want some?”

I consider her question. I like having her to myself, but I’m somewhat positive I’m never going to tell Georgia no. Especially after that kiss worked its way down into my chest.

“Sure. I’ll text them.”

A few minutes later Calum strolls in and scoops a cookie off the platter before taking a bite. “Couldn’t resist getting a taste of this sweetness,” Calum whispers in her ear before snaking a hand behind her back with his right arm, and he uses the other to take another bite of our cookie.

Taking in their closeness is pissing me off. This is my time with her. Calum smirks knowingly while Georgia eats up his praise and other shit he spews. She’s so laid back around him, and the easy laughter between them has my fist balled and my chest tight.